The DDA Trouble Free Zone Part 2

[bethbuchall]

Kristine-- To you and your family! I hope for peace for your fil very soon.

Beth

 

[weluvdisney]

Good Morning Everybody !!!!!Happy Friday!!!!

 

[tinknme]

Good morning Julie & welcome!

Good Morning Everybody !!!!!Happy Friday!!!!

 

[KMH1]

I made it up

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=11283372&postcount=4

sending you a pm back - but I have little words of wisdom on the topic!!!

He's a prosecutor...he's used to demanding evidence! Thanks for link!

Amy

 

[KMH1]

Yes, it's like a video montage.

That's cool, but knowing us, we'll print every single image. That's why we're so behind on scrapbooking...we have approximately 900 pictures of each trip!!!

Amy

 

[KMH1]

Looks like being a lurker has SOME advantages-----Even I knew that !!!!! Sorry

Oh, I see you're a smartie pants now too! I think I'll just keep those heart cut-out cookies I baked for our get-together tomorrow night.

Amy

 

[weluvdisney]

Oh, I see you're a smartie pants now too! I think I'll just keep those heart cut-out cookies I baked for our get-together tomorrow night.

Amy

Sorry I couldn't resist !!! If you don't bring those cookies you will have 2 very disappointed kids here -guilt trip-and I don't think you want to tick off Carli You know how she is!!


Julie

 

[KMH1]

Good morning to all!

So, what did you all do for your child(ren)'s 2nd birthday?

We had a pretty big party for Alyssa's first, but I'm wondering what route to take for her 2nd. Kevin and I are both children of divorce, so the guest count is 24 with just grandparents, uncles, aunts, and cousins! Many of the friends we've made through the years (college, work, community, etc.) have kids and of course, we've made new friends through swimming lessons, playdates, etc. so potentially that's 35-40 people (including parents and siblings). We use the fellowship hall at our church, so space isn't an issue (and I don't have to clean ). Last year, we bought fried chicken and chicken strips from Kroger and I prepared several side dishes. My MIL baked the cake.

Is it ridiculous to have a big get-together like this, every year? Obviously, if I go this route, then I do it for baby #2 too.

I would love to hear your thoughts! Thanks in advance!
Amy

 

[Tammi67]

That's cool, but knowing us, we'll print every single image. That's why we're so behind on scrapbooking...we have approximately 900 pictures of each trip!!!

Amy

And it will only get worse, Amy. If you are like the rest of us, once you have baby #2, you will "attempt" to double scrap, so they each have their own album. One for Alyssa and one for baby. I started doing this, figuring after they are grown and gone, they could take their albums with them. Now I think I should have done just one and let them fight over them!!

 

[KMH1]

Sorry I couldn't resist !!! If you don't bring those cookies you will have 2 very disappointed kids here -guilt trip-and I don't think you want to tick off Carli You know how she is!!


Julie

Since this is your first smartie pants offense, I'll forgive you quickly, but watch it! I'm the head smartie pants around here!!!

Amy

 

[weluvdisney]

Since this is your first smartie pants offense, I'll forgive you quickly, but watch it! I'm the head smartie pants around here!!!

Amy

 

[KMH1]

And it will only get worse, Amy. If you are like the rest of us, once you have baby #2, you will "attempt" to double scrap, so they each have their own album. One for Alyssa and one for baby. I started doing this, figuring after they are grown and gone, they could take their albums with them. Now I think I should have done just one and let them fight over them!!

Thanks for the "encouragement" Tammi! My scrapbooking is NEVER going to get caught up until we find a house with an extra bedroom that can be my scrapping room!

Oh, and my grandparents only bought one yearbook for my mom and her two siblings (they were all one grade apart, so their high school years overlapped). My mom doesn't even have her senior yearbook because her brother took it!

Amy

 

[KMH1]

Well, Jojo is over, so it's time to get off the computer and make some breakfast. See you all later!

Amy

 

[Tammi67]

Good morning to all!

So, what did you all do for your child(ren)'s 2nd birthday?

We had a pretty big party for Alyssa's first, but I'm wondering what route to take for her 2nd. Kevin and I are both children of divorce, so the guest count is 24 with just grandparents, uncles, aunts, and cousins! Many of the friends we've made through the years (college, work, community, etc.) have kids and of course, we've made new friends through swimming lessons, playdates, etc. so potentially that's 35-40 people (including parents and siblings). We use the fellowship hall at our church, so space isn't an issue (and I don't have to clean ). Last year, we bought fried chicken and chicken strips from Kroger and I prepared several side dishes. My MIL baked the cake.

Is it ridiculous to have a big get-together like this, every year? Obviously, if I go this route, then I do it for baby #2 too.

I would love to hear your thoughts! Thanks in advance!
Amy

Here are my thoughts. We did the big blowout for 1st birthday. Mostly a party for mom and dad because baby is still clueless. From there it went to quiet celebrations. We have no family in the area, so for second bday we went to Chuckie Cheese with neighbors and their kids, had pizza and let the kids play awhile. Then back to the house for cake and presents. For the next few years, it was just going out for a family dinner or cooking a favorite meal at home. Then our neighbors (our surrogate family) and their 2 kids come over for cake/ice cream. This year was the first year since his first bday that Nicholas had a big party, since he is now in Kindergarten he had a lot of friends that he wanted to invite. Alyssa's has been the same way.

 

[weluvdisney]

Amy;

We tend to do the big party thing too, at least so far. It seems like we almost have to, I think we will cut this off sometime soon when the kids are a little older. I have tried to cut it down a couple of times to just family w/cake and ice cream, but when I did suggest doing this it seemed like more people were sad that I wasn't having a big party so I would go ahead and have a big party.

Now we are on to having a family party and then every other year the kids have a big seperate party were their friends are invited also to something kid related. Thinking back though I think I did go a little more over the top for their first couple of birthdays though!!!! Luckily it works out that my kids have b-days in good weather months but July is so HOT. This year we are combining Kyle's first communion w/ Carli's b-day (she is NOT happy)., and it will be really big so we will be having that at the in-laws house!!!!

Good Luck

 

[bethbuchall]

Good morning to all!

So, what did you all do for your child(ren)'s 2nd birthday?

We had a pretty big party for Alyssa's first, but I'm wondering what route to take for her 2nd. Kevin and I are both children of divorce, so the guest count is 24 with just grandparents, uncles, aunts, and cousins! Many of the friends we've made through the years (college, work, community, etc.) have kids and of course, we've made new friends through swimming lessons, playdates, etc. so potentially that's 35-40 people (including parents and siblings). We use the fellowship hall at our church, so space isn't an issue (and I don't have to clean ). Last year, we bought fried chicken and chicken strips from Kroger and I prepared several side dishes. My MIL baked the cake.

Is it ridiculous to have a big get-together like this, every year? Obviously, if I go this route, then I do it for baby #2 too.

I would love to hear your thoughts! Thanks in advance!
Amy

If you enjoy it and it's not a strain, then I don't think it's ridiculous. Also, you may stop wanting to do the huge family/friends get-togethers as they get to be school age and just have a "kids" party for their friends. We've always had several smaller get-togethers, because we don't have relatives in the area. We celebrate each child's birthday at my parents' house on the trip closest to the birthday, and we visit the in-laws around birthday time as well.

Beth

 

[my3princes]

Good morning to all!

So, what did you all do for your child(ren)'s 2nd birthday?

We had a pretty big party for Alyssa's first, but I'm wondering what route to take for her 2nd. Kevin and I are both children of divorce, so the guest count is 24 with just grandparents, uncles, aunts, and cousins! Many of the friends we've made through the years (college, work, community, etc.) have kids and of course, we've made new friends through swimming lessons, playdates, etc. so potentially that's 35-40 people (including parents and siblings). We use the fellowship hall at our church, so space isn't an issue (and I don't have to clean ). Last year, we bought fried chicken and chicken strips from Kroger and I prepared several side dishes. My MIL baked the cake.

Is it ridiculous to have a big get-together like this, every year? Obviously, if I go this route, then I do it for baby #2 too.

I would love to hear your thoughts! Thanks in advance!
Amy

We have always had a large family/friend party for our boys. We have about 40 family members that live locally. I used to do a separte party for each boy, but since their birthdays fall within 6 weeks of each other I now do just one huge party. I always prepare a full meal and lots of desserts. I do party games for the kids. It is nice to get the whole family together once in a while, but everyone felt that 3 times in 6 weeks was overkill. I find we get more people to come to one party than we did for 3 separte parties. The older boys also have a "friend" party of their own on their actual birthdays.

Deb

 

[babytrees]

Hi..

Just checking in. I haven't been on in some time. Bill's dad continues to be dying in the hospital. I have never in all of my life seen a worse situation. Every day this poor man has a new issue...today they have decided he now has a staph infection. This is on top of: pneumonia, heart attack, UTI, fever, e coli infection. I hate to sound awful, but most people wouldn't let their pet suffer like this.

I hope everyone is well. There is no way I can catch up..if there is anything new or pressing, could someone please PM me?

Thanks!

Kristine

I am so sorry that your FIL is enduring this. Prayers and continue from my family to yours.

 

[Glynis]

AnnaBelle and Clarabelle - blimey what's with the rhyming names? I've noticed a few twins on american idol with rhyming names this year!

I've been known as Clarabelle and Clarabella by a few people over the years - hey you can't shorten Clare so they lengthen it... never considered the cow thing before though... but now you come to mention it...

Didn't Walt create a character named Clarabelle the Cow? I know that in DCA there's an ice cream parlor named Clarabelle's.

 

[Glynis]

Good morning to all!

So, what did you all do for your child(ren)'s 2nd birthday?

We had a pretty big party for Alyssa's first, but I'm wondering what route to take for her 2nd. Kevin and I are both children of divorce, so the guest count is 24 with just grandparents, uncles, aunts, and cousins! Many of the friends we've made through the years (college, work, community, etc.) have kids and of course, we've made new friends through swimming lessons, playdates, etc. so potentially that's 35-40 people (including parents and siblings). We use the fellowship hall at our church, so space isn't an issue (and I don't have to clean ). Last year, we bought fried chicken and chicken strips from Kroger and I prepared several side dishes. My MIL baked the cake.

Is it ridiculous to have a big get-together like this, every year? Obviously, if I go this route, then I do it for baby #2 too.

I would love to hear your thoughts! Thanks in advance!
Amy

With 4 kids (and twins, to boot) parties like you describe are impossible every year. We didn't start having official "friend" parties until our kids were 4. Before that, we simply had cake and ice cream with relatives. Now that the kids are older and want more in a party, we sat them down and explained how hard (not to mention expensive) big parties are every year. We discussed several options and decided that on odd years they can have "friend" parties (but they only get to invite as many kids as they are old), and on even years we have family get togethers. It's really helped cut down on the expense for us. On friend years, we throw a really fun party, themed, with games, gift bags, small lunch, etc., and for family years I let the birthday child pick their favorite dinner, and afterwards, the uncles, cousins, and aunts come over for cake and ice cream. So far it's working for us, and so many of my neighbors liked the idea, they are doing the same thing, so it's not been a big deal with the kids friends.

Hope this helps.